Operation Tin Roof deploys crew for disaster relief in Saipan

In the early morning hours of September 2, a four-person crew boarded a plane for Saipan, where Typhoon Soudelor made landfall on August 2 before heading to Taiwan, China and Japan’s Ryukuy Islands. During its 30-day deployment, the crew will set up a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) to help coordinate and manage volunteers from multiple agencies and community groups. Derick Schneibel, Iowa assistant program manager, will lead the crew, which includes Dan Burch and Brian Krantz-White (Rochester crews), and Tonya Dunsmoor (Ames, Iowa crew).

The typhoon left at least 38 dead and many more injured, and displaced thousands. There is still no power on the island and running water has been restored to only a few areas. Saipan is one of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. commonwealth in the Western Pacific.